-
Story 109
Another Asia story : Whilst we perceive Asia to be conservative, it is far worse than the West. Regressive men, patriarchal mindset – it reeks. Men retort to nastiness and passive aggression to put women down. I am referring to some Indian men in Private Banking in a financial hub in Asia (outside India) They possess barely half the competence many women would be expected to…
-
Story 108
I worked at Goldman Sachs for many years. During that time, my team was led by a senior white male manager for whom caregiving responsibilities were invisible. Advancement and favor were routinely afforded to those who could remain in the office until he chose to leave. As a working parent required to leave at a fixed time to collect my toddler from daycare, I was disadvantaged.…
-
Story 107
Concerns aren’t incomprehensible; they are inconvenient. During ERM town-halls at Citi, employees started submitting anonymous comments about retaliation by managers who kept being promoted. The comments got uncomfortable. Eventually, anonymous questions were no longer allowed. Leadership said they ‘couldn’t help without knowing what was going on.’ The irony was lost on no one: the reason people asked anonymously was fear of retaliation for speaking up. By…
-
Story 106
Decades ago, the president of a business unit abroad asked me – in front of male and female colleagues – if my pubic hair matched the color of the hair on my head. Senior male colleagues were visibly embarrassed and made a few protests were made offline. Yet nothing happened. The sick man remained president. I guess being close to retirement meant the company didn’t have…
-
Story 105
My path to a leading investment bank (“The Bull”) began because a former co-worker at the small financial services firm where I worked attempted to rape me in my own home. I woke to find this 6’4” man on top of me as I slept, pinning my arms to my side. My two-year-old was in her crib in the other room. My husband was away on…
-
Story 104
“We must do what they fear – tell the truth, spread the truth.” Alexei Navalny I was raised with conventional wisdom from another continent: don’t confront the attacker, it’ll make it worse. For years, I believed this. One day, I realized that while there is some truth to it, it was also a disservice to my dignity, my self-respect, and my healing. My father told me…
-
Story 103
I worked for a large international bank and during my time there I suffered a miscarriage the day before my 3 month scan was due. I notified my employer who put me on 2 weeks sick leave assuming I would be back after 2 weeks, under the pressure of working for this toxic manager who happened to be male I returned after 2 weeks of sick…
-
Story 102
A consulting partner with an active engagement at the firm I worked for propositioned me for an affair. He fantasized about my neck. When I asked about his wife and kids, he was undeterred and said he wanted to keep them. I was being used as an object, and apparently I was supposed to feel honored by the ‘privilege’ of sleeping with him. I felt insulted…
-
Story 101
So many instances:– When I was very junior a senior manager told me I smelled nice. At a different point said he was looking for a lover.– Another senior manager avoided me like a plague if when I told him I was there if he needed anything. I meant related to work – and thought this was obv. but clearly not to him. He excluded me…
-
Story 100
During the pandemic I decided that I would apply for a $50,000AUD loan for my business to lock down some IP and trademarks. I didn’t want to crimp my cash flow but felt as I was working from home this was a good time to get some delayed Admin processed. I saw my bank manager with my P/L’s. Loan approved at 12% interest. YERP money given…